March Break: March destinations that draw Canadians

A humpback whale in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Kahului, Maui, Hawaii. Tourists by the thousands load tour boats each winter to view the whales as they migrate through the area.

Published on Thu Feb 27 2014

March is here and that means spring is here. Well, in theory, at least. For Canadians, that’s welcome news as this year’s winter is putting everyone to the test. In anticipation of the rush for spring getaways, Cheapflights.ca, a travel deal web site, has chosen its Top 5 March Travel Hot Spots. They are all southern destinations with warmer temperatures and plenty to do in March.

1. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. March might not be full beach season in Myrtle Beach, but, in general, the sun will be shining. So it’s not a completely unreasonable time of year to bring a bathing suit and sunscreen. It’s a better time of year to bring your golf clubs. This is serious golf country, and, with average temperatures around 18C, it’s good time to be on the course. Both Porter and WestJet serve the airport, so it’s an easy escape when winter seems as though it may go on forever.

2. Kahului, Maui, Hawaii. Kahului is the gateway to all that Maui has to offer from the beauty of the beaches to the height of Haleakala. This island getaway is popular all year round, although March marks the transition from the relatively rainy season to the sunshine of summer. It is the final month of whale-watching season and of the two-month Maui Whale Festival. Experts say 12,000-14,000 whales come to Hawaii between January and March each year and are particularly drawn to the waters off of Maui. Add in the Canadian families looking to make the most of March break and you get a good crowd.

3. San Juan, Puerto Rico. There is no shortage of reasons to visit Puerto Rico in March. It’s warm, sunny and dry. It’s an accessible and affordable destination for families and students on break. And there’s entertainment to fit almost any audience. From Festival Casals (Feb. 22-Mar. 15), which honours cellist Pable Casals, to the Carnaval de Ponce (Feb. 26-Mar. 4), the local party leading into Lent, to JazzFest (Mar. 20-23), with its celebration of Latin musicians, there is barely a break in the beat. The best way to get some peace and quiet might actually be to drop by the the PGA’s Puerto Rico Open (Mar. 6-9).

4. St. Petersburg, Florida. The Tampa Bay area beckons with beaches and baseball in March. The small St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport takes great advantage of this, positioning itself as the fast and easy path to the beaches of the Gulf Coast. This airport, served primarily by budget airlines, cites strong recent growth numbers. It will be a long time before it challenges Tampa International as the areas dominant airport, but, with non-stop flights from Toronto on SunWing, it’s not surprising to see its popularity growing, particularly now the Blue Jays are in spring training in Dunedin, just 20 kilometres away.

5. New Orleans. Why March in New Orleans? Two words: Mardi Gras! Fat Tuesday itself lands on Mar. 4 this year and the whole first weekend of March is parades, parties and people-watching. Each day gets more festive, right up to the costumed madness of Mardi Gras Day. Not surprisingly, out-of-towners flock to the Big Easy ever year for the fun. Of course, St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans also turns into a party. Parades roll again, but, along with green beads, expect to catch carrots, potatoes and the occasional head of cabbage . . . all the fixings for your corned beef dinner.

—Star staff

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